Student Equity and Achievement Program Palo Verde College - Student Equity Plan

Palo Verde College launched its Summer Bridge Program in the summer of 2016. Since then, 100 students at our main campus location in Blythe have successfully completed the three-day, 18-hour, and one credit (GES 101 – Intro to College) course. In the summer of 2017, we were able to begin the program at our Needles Center located 100 miles north of our main campus. Initially, the program targeted recent high school graduates to attend and assist in the navigation of the community college system. A review of the program for the last two sessions demonstrated a need to revamp the program and address the target audience. The Director of Student Success and Equity is currently working with counselors to revisit and redesign the program’s purpose and intention to address the equity needs of students who are not quite college-ready, yet need support and guidance to succeed in transferring to and graduating from a 4-year university. The goals of the program will be established including increasing persistence, retention, and completion of courses by 5%-10% for the incoming (summer 2020) students, especially in college-level English and math courses.

Establishing the Puente Project on campus encourages students to enroll and persist in English and Math courses designed to engage economically disadvantaged students, Hispanic students, and first-generation college students. The intent is to incorporate counseling, English, and Math disciplines to design Puente courses that enhance the mentioned students Palo Verde College experience leading to student success and closing the identified achievement gaps. Puente’s mission to create future leaders will be the focus at Palo Verde College. The program will establish pipelines with students to encourage them to transfer to a 4-year institution with the plan to return to the community, preferably Palo Verde College, to continue the connections of students with role models. The curriculum will be inclusive for students, however, focusing on the Hispanic community’s accomplishments and contributions globally, nationally, statewide, and locally. The environment created will foster educational achievement and advancement for students through the classroom and dedicated student space in the Student Success Lab. The curriculum will encompass workshops with speakers and presentations demonstrating Hispanic student success in various employment sectors including a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) majors. Puente students will be encouraged to participate in community engagement activities where they are mentors to elementary and secondary students. These students will read to younger students in classrooms and at public and school libraries throughout the academic year. Puente students will also participate in promotional events to strengthen their public speaking and presentation skills at local fairs and festivals including on-campus events for high school students and the general public.

Established in Spring 2019, the Student Success Lab primarily serves as an organized environment designated as an extension of the Harry A Faull Library. The student space serves multiple student groups including PVC Umoja and MeChA. The former classroom was redesigned as an area for student success and includes six computers, a printer, welcoming décor, and a wall to showcase exemplary student effort. Additionally, counselors and educational advisors have scheduled time slots available for walk-ins. Friday study halls are scheduled monthly in the space, with special speakers and events also conducted in the space. Peer tutoring occurs in the space at various times throughout the week. A professional math tutor utilizes the space in the evenings for student access Monday-Thursday during each semester. Upcoming uses planned include using the space for mental health advocacy and/or sessions. Working with EOPS to conduct their mandatory counseling events in the room. Continue to make the space available to other student groups including the mentorship program being established and the Astronomy Club. Other future plans include collaborating with Hunger Free Campus initiative and including snacks and water in the area during the day. Making the space available to outside agencies beneficial to student success such as the local banks that offers financial literacy workshops, presentations by CalFresh, four-year university representatives, and city, county, and state representatives. While the Student Success Lab offers a few textbooks for students’ use during scheduled times, the plan is to have every textbook available for students use during study hall and other open study times.

Palo Verde College Umoja officially joined in Fall 2018 with two co-practitioners – Director of Student Success and Equity and a Biology Faculty member. The program began with seven students and now has 14 regular attendees. Moving forward, the plan is to Umoja-fy curriculum and introduce psychology and history courses targeting Umoja students in efforts to increase retention, completion, and transfer rates. PVC Umoja has dedicated space for students in the Student Success Lab where students are able to learn and practice the 18 established practices. Collaborating with local Black/African American mentors intends to bolster the PVC Umoja’s local mission to foster future leaders on campus and in the community. The mentors are diverse and include male and female Blacks/African Americans who work in education, counseling, corrections, military, law enforcement, law, and business. These mentors will also present at PVC Umoja events and other campus functions. The Director of Student Success and Equity is reviewing curriculum and CORs from California community college Umoja partners that have Umojafied courses for the purpose of designing and implementing diverse courses for Palo Verde College Umoja students, yet inclusive of all students, that are relevant to a transferrable program of study. The plan is to work with existing Palo Verde College faculty and the curriculum committee for proper alignment and multiple colleague feedback. The first course planned is psychology followed by social psychology, and African American history to be available Fall of 2021. PVC Umoja is also working on establishing a community presence through volunteerism and community involvement. The groups partnered with the local Head Start program with set times to read to the preschool-aged children. Additionally, the students serve at the Harmony Soup Kitchen, at least once-a-month, and participates in communitywide projects such as the neighborhood clean-ups and recreational youth events.

Incorporate additional professional tutoring for students in college-level English and math to support students and as a result of AB705. For professional tutoring, the Student Success and Equity Committee partnered with the local high school near the main campus recruiting for credential English and math instructors willing to work for the non-credit hourly rate, after hours, in the Student Success Lab to assist and tutor students in the college-level subjects. Future intentions include offering sessions to current full-time faculty and adjunct who want to provide consistency to students. Currently, we have a professional tutor for math employed for 15 out of the 18-week semester. The library offers peer tutoring, however, beginning Fall 2020, peer tutors will be regularly available in the Student Success Lab for students’ convenience. Peer tutors will also visit math and English classes during the first week of classes to familiarize students with the peer personnel and to increase participation by decreasing the anxiety associated with needing or accessing tutoring. Collaborating with the librarian, the Director of Student Success and Equity are designing events encouraging the use of the facilities including a student book club, a one campus-one book initiative, a read-a-thon, and book-of-the-month contest. The library has partnered with the Hunger-Free Campus initiative to offer snacks, water, and coffee, at no cost, during the library’s open hours.

Working with the Palo Verde College Foundation, Student Equity and Achievement plans to launch a mentor program, focusing on first-generation and economically disadvantaged students, especially those who are veterans, foster youth, and formerly incarcerated. The goal is to have the program functional by Fall 2020 for students to be able to apply, partner with a mentor within their program of study, and make sure each student has a student education plan on file. This two-semester program focuses on enriching the experiences of the selected students by providing a visual connection to their educational goals. Forming a relationship with a mentor in their major of choice serves as a motivational tool for students to see learn how other individuals who experienced similar life events are capable of success. The end goal of the mentorship program is to foster leaders on campus to increase the self-efficacy of students. This mentorship program ends with a ceremony recognizing all mentor partnerships with scholarships awarded to participants. Upon successful completion of the mentorship program, students will participate in a Leadership Conference at Disneyland where students receive educational information and tools in a symposium format that can be included in future college and employment applications. Following the leadership conference, students will present at the first Palo Verde College Foundation meeting (Fall 2021) and at the first Student Success and Equity Committee meeting (Fall 2021).

Collaborating with Admissions and Records and Instruction, the delivery of student success components are being delivered, in-person, at the two local male correctional facilities located in the district. Face-to-face orientations have been implemented at both facilities with updates and upgrades underway for the Correspondence Education – Incarcerated Student Handbook. Additionally, educational advisors visit the institutions on a bi-monthly basis to address concerns of the incarcerated students including student education plans, programs of study, and appropriate courses for future semesters. Admission and Records has dedicated staff to visit the facilities for college applications pick-ups and registration cards prior to the enrollment date. DSPS visits each institution with educational advisors and general counselors to distribute degrees and certificates in-person. Educational advisors have also assisted Instruction by distributing printed schedules, in person, to the incarcerated students at the local facilities, followed by the Instructional Department distributing syllabi. The district is currently reviewing all processes and procedures for Correspondence Education with plans to renovate and regenerate a high-quality delivery of the educational and support services offered through Palo Verde College Correspondence Education program housed under the Distance Learning umbrella. The up-to five-year plan consists of reviewing current practices and how the processes effect incarcerated student-learning abilities whether it is related to modality of instruction, technology, or support services.

The Palo Verde College Veterans Resource Center opened in November 2019. The facility, located in the Technology Building, targets the veterans’ community and provides a quiet place for studying and meeting. The plan is to hire a veteran student worker who will be available to veteran students and who will also be able to recruit in the community. The goal is also to provide medical and mental health services in the designated area by collaborating with the regional Veterans Administration Affairs representative through the local congressman. Additional services will include a dedicated educational advisor and special events highlighting veterans in the community and on campus. Upcoming plans include providing a peer tutor for English and math in the Veterans Resource Center during set times. The Palo Verde College Veterans Club has a dedicated space to meet for their regular meetings.